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10 Dec 2016 2:21:57pm

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The root cause of Aboriginal communities' despair and dysfunction is deeply entrenched Australian racism.

As usual, and as I have done myself, Professor Stanley repeats once again how Aboriginal health, education and social programmes might help long-suffering Aboriginal people to make changes for the better. Who doubts her?

But, also as usual, no courage is shown to address ways in which non-Aboriginal Australia might make important social changes within mainstream Australia to help. Or even to address the root cause of the problem. We need educational and social change programmes in Australia (eg TV advertising campaigns etc) to combat racism as we have have done, for example, to combat violence against women. Racism must become unkewl.

Successful reconciliation and healing requires that BOTH parties examine themselves and make difficult social adjustments, not just one party.

Anyway, "REconciliation" is a peculiarly optimistic word for two parties to use who were never conciled in the first place. Conciliation should be aimed for. C'mon, Australia, It's time and we can fight racism!

Judging by Australian public health statistics, if he US President-elect lived in Australia, he'd probably have an untreated conductive hearing loss in this proud land of the bionic ear. Can't we change that?